Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
05:59
Author Spotlight: Oxygen-Independent Assays to Measure Mitochondrial Function in Mammals
Published on: May 19, 2023
3.1K
Mitochondrial acute oxygen sensing and signaling
José López-Barneo1,2,3, Patricia Ortega-Sáenz1,2,3
1Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
|December 2, 2021
Summary
The carotid body
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Oxygen is vital for mammalian life.
- Hypoxia triggers cardiorespiratory reflexes to increase oxygen supply.
- The carotid body (CB) is a primary oxygen-sensing organ.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the function of carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor cells.
- To highlight the role of mitochondria in oxygen sensing and signaling.
- To discuss the "mitochondria-to-membrane signaling" model in chemosensory transduction.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on carotid body physiology.
- Analysis of cellular mechanisms in oxygen sensing.
- Discussion of mitochondrial involvement in signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- CB glomus cells sense hypoxia via O2-regulated ion channels.
- Mitochondria play a crucial role in acute oxygen sensing and signaling within CB cells.
- A "mitochondria-to-membrane signaling" model explains chemosensory transduction.
Conclusions:
- Specialized mitochondria are essential for carotid body oxygen sensing.
- Mitochondrial signaling pathways are key to the hypoxic response.
- Mitochondria may have broader roles in adaptive oxygen sensing across various cell types.
Related Concept Videos
01:45Mitochondrial Membranes
12.9K
A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
12.9K
01:46Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
15.3K
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
15.3K